A cross-section of Russian society joined the worldwide wave of mourning on Wednesday over the death of Silicon valley guru Steve Jobs.
Thousands of Russian bloggers, including President Dmitry Medvedev, hailed the late Apple co-founder as a man who “changed the world.”
Jobs, the heart and soul of the computer technologies giant that he co-founded in a garage and then reigned for 14 years, died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday at the age of 56, just over a month after deteriorating health forced him to resign from the company.
Jobs’ death triggered a storm of comments from Russian internet users. Many bloggers described the late businessman as a “genius” and “great” man.
"People like Steve Jobs change our world," the Russian president, who styles himself as a technologically savvy leader with a Twitter account and an iPad, one of Apple’s most popular gadgets, wrote in his micro blog. "My sincere condolences to his loved ones and to everyone who admired his intellect and talent."
Medvedev aide Arkady Dvorkovich said Jobs’ record of achievement was worthy of applause.
“Applause for Steve Jobs for what he has achieved during his not very long life,” he commented in his micro blog.
“Who changes the world more - great politicians or great entrepreneurs?” the head of the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation (Rosnano), Anatoly Chubais, asked rhetorically in his Twitter post.
One of the greatest examples of success in the history of American business, Jobs never received a degree in technology. Before he started working at a company that produced video games in the mid-1970s, the future Apple CEO earned his living by collecting empty bottles.
“He created a great company,” Sergei Alexashenko from Russia’s Higher School of Economics wrote. “And if our political demagogues would say again that it is impossible to earn a billion without cheating… without oil, gas, high-ranking friends and bribes… hold [Jobs] up as a model.”
Many Russian internet users believe that Jobs’ most important qualities, which helped him become an “iconic figure linking the XX and the XXI century” who “turned a small ambitious company into a genuine culture,” were his “enthusiasm” and “braveness,” as well as “sincere passion and dedication to his mission.”
Some said, however, that although Jobs’ contribution to computer science was “huge,” it would be an exaggeration to call him a “great” man or a “prophet.”
But most bloggers admit that Jobs’ greatest achievement was that he made working with electronic devices easy and pleasant for millions of people.
Describing him as the “personification of the American dream,” some internet users wonder if Jobs’ contribution to hi-tech could ever be repeated.
“Contrary to popular belief, it appears that irreplaceable people do exist,” blogger alansalbiev wrote. “The King is Dead - Long Live the King? Time will show…”
Russian business people also agreed Jobs would be badly missed.
"I think that real fans of the company will remain faithful to it even after Steve Jobs' death," said Alexander Malis, president of Euroset, Russia's largest mobile phones retailer.
"Nothing threatens the future of the company. I do not think that presentation of iPhone 4S instead of expected iPhone5 is connected with Jobs' health. I believe iPhone 4S will be good enough for another six months as Apple's flagship product," he added.
Olga Uskova, President of Cognitive Technologies, a Russian software company, agreed that Jobs was a hero of the industry.
This is a very sad event as he was one of the brightest and charismatic heroes of our time, who has formed the image of our time to a great extent," she said.
"Steve Jobs' death will be a serious blow for Apple as the company has always been associated with its founder and leader, with whom it had achieved all its successes. There is not a single person in Apple's managment who could replace Jobs at least partially and have the same trust of users and shareholders," she added.
Yandex, Russia's top browser, said that by 2 p.m. there were over 15,000 queries about Jobs' death.
Russian bloggers posted over 2,000 posts on the subject and there were about 6,000 posts in microblogs by 1 p.m. Russian-language media has written over 1,000 news items about Jobs' death.
A tree was planted in memory of Jobs in Russia’s first Internet alley near St Petersburg on Thursday.
The alley was planted by bloggers, internet company representatives and the head of St. Petersburg’s Frunzensky district, Terenty Meshcheryakov.
